Chapter 2

At those words, the whole noisy scene fell silent in an instant.

Ian's face darkened at once, and the groomsmen realized they had gone a little too far, all of them pressing their lips shut and saying nothing.

I ignored their reactions and pushed straight through the crowd toward the front doors.

Before I could get far, Ian caught up from behind and grabbed my wrist.

He forced down his anger, his brows knit tight, his voice full of irritation. "Natalie, what are you making a scene for? All these people are watching. Are you treating our marriage like a joke?"

I wrenched my hand free, a ring of red already marking my wrist.

"Ian, who's really treating marriage like a joke, me or you?"

"My cat is a male, and you don't know that. My favorite color is blue, and you don't know that either. And you still don't know my shoe size."

He frowned even harder, impatient. "These are all little things. Who cares about details like that?"

I laughed. "Little things? Details? If it's really the way you say, then why can you remember every one of Bianca's?"

"Ian, do you realize that every one of your answers tells me the one you love isn't me, it's her?"

Ian took a deep breath. "I've told you, I only think of Bianca as a little sister."

"A little sister?"

I scoffed. "You give your little sister a necklace worth three point eight million, and then forget to get a birthday gift for your girlfriend?"

"Ian, being your girlfriend is really no fun at all."

Ian gritted his teeth, as if he'd hit the limit of his patience. "Natalie, don't stand here making a fuss. The guests are still waiting in the banquet hall."

"Yes, I admit it. Bianca and I grew up together as childhood friends, and I know her better than I know you. But that doesn't mean there has to be anything between us. Would you stop thinking such filthy things about everyone else?"

"And about the gift, I had no idea you were so materialistic. It's only a necklace, and it's worth this much fuss to you?"

"You didn't used to be like this."

When he finished, he looked at me with eyes full of disappointment, as if this time I were the one who had done something wrong.

I wanted to say more, but a familiar piece of music started up.

Ian froze. Forgetting we were still fighting, he instinctively pulled out his phone.

I knew this was the special ringtone he'd set for Bianca.

It was this ringtone that had called him away from my side on a night that was supposed to be a date for just the two of us.

It was this same ringtone that had made Ian and me fight one time after another.

And now it was this same ringtone again, going off in the middle of our worst fight yet.

Ian answered, and his expression changed in an instant.

"Okay, I understand. Wait for me, I'll be right back!"

"Forget the wedding, get Bianca to the hospital first! Worst case, we'll just hold the wedding another day."

After he hung up, he glared at me viciously.

"Are you satisfied now? Bianca got so upset because of you that she fainted."

"Since you clearly didn't mean to go through with it today, let's postpone our wedding."

"We'll talk about the wedding whenever you realize you were wrong and are willing to apologize to Bianca."

With that, he paid no attention at all to how I reacted. He turned and ran off toward the hall, as if he were certain I would bow my head and apologize the way I always had.

Except this time was different.

I gave a bitter laugh and dialed my parents' number.

"Hey, Mom, that arranged marriage alliance you asked me to consider last time, I've thought it through."

"Set up a meeting for us."